Dhaka: Bangladesh's Health Minister Zahid Malik, who was criticised for attending a crowded event at a hospital amid the coronavirus outbreak, has drawn flak again for bringing a large number of officials to a COVID-19 media briefing.

Malik was flanked by health, home and religious affairs secretaries, doctors’ leaders and other top officials while around 35 others stood behind them during the briefing at the Directorate General of Health Services in Dhaka’s Mohakhali on Saturday.

More than 100 media people came for the briefing. A journalist asked whether it was reasonable to hold the briefing this way or the government should organise briefings online, bdnews24.com reported.

“Not all systems can be followed during wartime. We, and you too, understand this very well that everyone needs to be safe,” the minister said.

“But we have to respond to the call of duty for the country, its people. Even you and our workers have come in this holiday,” he added.